Curious Iowa: Who is Playtime Poppy?

“I’m a playtime, Playtime Poppy, a cornfield is where I was born” — if you know the rest of that song, chances are you have experienced Playtime Poppy Children’s Theatre.

Since the inception of Playtime Poppy nearly 75 years ago, thousands of Cedar Rapids students have been involved in theater productions and classroom education programs.

One curious Iowan wondered how Playtime Poppy -- the theater and its mascot, a singing ear of corn -- came to be and what the program looks like today. So, they asked Curious Iowa -- a Gazette series that answers readers’ questions about our state, its people and culture -- to investigate.

We dug into the origins of Playtime Poppy and found out how it grew into a quintessential experience for young thespians in Cedar Rapids.

How has Playtime Poppy evolved over the years?

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In 1937, the Junior League of Cedar Rapids began putting on plays with adult actors in local elementary schools and the children’s hospital in Iowa city. The first show was “The Sleeping Beauty.”

Productions were put on hold during World War II but resumed in March 1947. “The Tinder Box” was put on at Paramount Theatre for the public and parochial schools.

In 1951, Cedar Rapids Children’s Theatre Inc., and a 28-member board was formally organized by Junior League member Marijane Morgan and Dorothy Carey. The board was made up of Junior League and community members.

In the early days, a majority of the shows were held in Sinclair Auditorium at Coe College and the actors were adults. In the 1960s, high school students began to put on the shows.

Today, Jefferson, Washington and Kennedy high school students host and put on the shows at their respective school auditoriums.

This year’s production of “The Jungle Book” marked the first time Jefferson High School senior Keileigh Sallee and junior Connor Patty participated in a Playtime Poppy show.

Patty, a head of the shift crew, said, “I do it because I find it a ton of fun and it keeps me busy. ... I just enjoy it a lot.”

Sallee added that she enjoys the community building aspect of theater.

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“It’s easy to meet freshmen this way because usually as a senior you usually don’t talk to the new people.” Sallee said.

This past season, more than 4,600 children and families attended Playtime Poppy productions.

In the summer, Playtime Poppy hosts Summer Theatre Adventure, which is open to youth ages 9-14. After one week together, the theater camp puts on a play.

Sheryl Payton, Playtime Poppy board president, said students from different schools and ages mingle – which can be intimidating at first. She remembered the anxiety students felt this past summer.

“By the end of the week, they were performing together in groups. They were standing on stage giving their lines. The confidence, the boost, the teamwork, the camaraderie that they built.” Payton said. “One parent told me, ‘Well yeah they go to different schools but they’re going to be pen pals now and we’re going to get play dates together’.”

Who is Playtime Poppy?

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The story goes that an ear of corn dreamed of being a part of the children’s theater in Cedar Rapids. When he was transported to the city, he fled the truck to chase his dream. After some misadventure, he arrived at the public library where the children’s theater was meeting to decide on a mascot. They asked the ear of corn to be the children’s theater mascot—their Playtime Pal. The name Playtime Poppy was decided when they heard he’d almost popped a kernel to get there.

While the original text refers to Playtime Poppy as “he,” the first boy to take on the role of Poppy was Walt Pimlott in 1969.

We have Arthur Collins’ first wife Margaret Van Dyke Collins to thank for the original image of Playtime Poppy. Van Dyke Collins drew up the mascot and the first costume was sewn by Janet Wrap.

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Poppy’s first appearance was Oct. 25, 1952 at a production of “Prince Swineherd” put on by New York’s Edwin Strawbridge Ballet group at Sinclair Auditorium. Poppy danced with children at intermission. The mascot also visited schools to promote the children’s theater productions.

In 1955, Junior League member Delores “Dee” Vorhies penned the earworm theme song that connects child, parents and grandparents. Vorhies was a local composer who was active in theater and music along with her husband Jack. The song was updated in 1972.

Jefferson High School senior Abel Prignitz played Playtime Poppy in the recent production of “The Jungle Book”. Prignitz attended Playtime Poppy shows with family growing up.

“I was offered my sophomore year to fill in as Poppy and I had this moment of awe that I was able to do it.” Prignitz said.

The obtuse costume is “decent to get into, except for the shoes”, Prignitz said. Understandably, it gets hot inside and it’s difficult to see.

Despite the difficulties that come with becoming the iconic mascot, Prignitz is glad to be able to carry on the tradition of Playtime Poppy and represent it well.

“I really like Playtime Poppy ... and I’m just glad I get to spread the joy of it.”

What kinds of classroom programming does Playtime Poppy provide?

While Playtime Poppy is known for their live productions, they also host arts-integrated educational programs in classrooms for a range of grade levels. These programs promotes arts awareness, build audiences and strengthen imagination and empathy, Lynn Jensen, Playtime Poppy managing director, said.

An interactive storytelling program engages kindergartners with sensory activities. In third grade, Operation Backstage lets students experience how a performance is brought to life. The program engaged with 207 students during the 2023-24 school year.

One Great Line brings the technical and dramatic aspect of theater to fifth grade classrooms. Using one sentence of classroom literature, students create their own productions. They work in a group to direct the actor and design the set, lighting and costumes.

Jensen said it’s valuable for students to experience things in a new way and for teachers to see their students in a new way. This program facilitates teamwork and has a habit of bringing reserved students out of their shells.

“The teachers are always just like, amazed that some child that’s usually so reserved or doesn’t want to work with other people, by the end they’re all just in there working together to get the thing done,” Jensen said.

In the 2023-2024 season, these programs reached more than 780 students.

What are upcoming Playtime Poppy shows?

The remainder of Playtime Poppy’s 2024-2025 season plays out in the coming months. Kennedy High School will put on “Elf The Musical Jr.” Dec. 5, 6 and 7. Washington High School will perform “Swiss Family Robinson” on April 17, 18 and 19.

The children’s theater is approaching its 75th anniversary. Jensen said the skills people learn when they engage with arts programming, like imagination, critical thinking and problem solving, perpetuates a community awareness for the program.

“Once you have a large group of people who start to feel the same way about this ... happy little ear of corn, then we’ve been able to sustain it because of those stories,” Jensen said.

Playtime Poppy Children’s Theatre is looking to hear Playtime Poppy memories from the community. If you have a story to share, email playtimepoppy@playtimepoppy.org.

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